Intermittent Fasting: A Financially Savvy Approach to Healthy Living
From a young age, I have been known for my thrifty ways.
Saving has always been a priority for me.
Over the years, I've been called "clever" by some and "cheap" by others, but my dedication to saving has remained unwavering.
Through my fitness journey through becoming a "gym-bro", I stumbled upon a fun and innovative approach that not only helps me save money but also improves my health - intermittent fasting.
Let's explore how intermittent fasting has become a game-changer for my financial and physical well-being.
The Journey of Saving and Discipline
My grandfathers, Geniale and Carmine, served as my financial role models.
My grandfather Geniale's knack for finding the best deals and other grandfather Carmine's meticulous tracking of every cent taught me the importance of knowing where my money goes.
At just 15 years old, while working at the my first job at the library, I started budgeting myself to $50 a month for spending.
This early discipline instilled in me the ability to save, leading me to achieve my goal of buying my first car, Veronica, a sleek black Mazda 3.
The "AirPods Incident" - A Lesson in Prioritizing
Despite my efforts to save, some people saw my thrifty nature as being "cheap."
This came to light during a conversation with my mother about buying the new Apple AirPods.
Determined to stick to my savings principles, I told her I hadn't saved enough yet, though I had the money.
Instead of giving in to impulse buying, I decided to save a dollar a day until I could afford them.
My mother, not fully understanding my approach, teased me, but I persisted.
Finally, after 219 days of saving, I proudly purchased those headphones, reaffirming my belief in the value of disciplined saving.
The Thrifty Game of Intermittent Fasting
As someone who likes to make saving a game, I was intrigued when I learned about intermittent fasting.
Initially used as a tool for my fitness journey, intermittent fasting soon revealed its benefits beyond health - it affected my spending habits positively.
The 16/8 method, fasting for 16 hours and eating within an 8-hour window, fit seamlessly into my routine.
During the fasting period, I consumed only water, tea, or coffee without additives, ensuring I stayed within my calorie budget.
At its core, intermittent fasting is about creating a calorie deficit, which aids in weight loss and weight management.
This has allowed intermittent fasting to gain popularity as a powerful tool for weight management and overall health. However, I learned how the benefits extend beyond the realm of physical well-being.
Apart from its direct influence on financials such as curbing unnecessary food expenditures, leading to significant savings in your overall food budget.
Intermittent fasting imparts principles that allow us to align our fitness skills with practical savings principals that can turn into achievable and sustainable saving goals.
The Lessons Intermittent Fasting Teaches Us
Encouraging Mindfulness:
One of the key benefits of intermittent fasting is its promotion of mindfulness during designated eating windows.
With limited time to consume meals, individuals are less likely to indulge in unnecessary snacks or impulse purchases.
This newfound mindfulness extends beyond eating habits and can be applied to financial choices as well.
By being conscious of what you eat during your eating window, you develop the discipline to make smarter choices in your spending habits.
Intermittent fasting imposes constraints on eating habits, and this sense of restraint can be applied to your finances too.
Just as you set an eating limit, consider setting a spending limit as well. By allowing yourself to spend money only within your eating window, you create a structured approach to your finances, preventing late-night impulse purchases like online shopping.
This self-imposed restriction fosters financial discipline and enhances your savings potential.
An actionable step to this type of thinking can come from your next impulse purchases. Ask yourself the important questions before spending:
"Do I really need this? Will it align with my long-term goals? Can I afford it without sacrificing priorities?"
This mindfulness helps you make informed choices, prioritize saving, and reduce financial stress. By being mindful of your finances, you take control of your financial future and moves towards greater financial security.
It is often said that creativity flourishes within constraints.
The same principle applies to both our diets and our savings. Intermittent fasting offers various methods, such as the 19/5 fast or the 12/12 fast, allowing you to get creative with your fasting routine.
Similarly, you can experiment with different spending windows, giving yourself specific days of the month for spending. This creativity within constraints not only adds excitement to your routine but also reinforces financial discipline.
The Power of Routine Management
In today's fast-paced world, managing our time and priorities efficiently is crucial to achieving success in both our personal and professional lives.
Establishing routines not only provides structure but also enables us to develop sustainable habits. Intermittent fasting, initially utilized as a tool for building a fitness routine, has proven to be an effective lifestyle choice for routine management.
As the saying goes, "The faster you are able to give yourself a routine in which you follow, the easier it will be to develop habits that stick."
Intermittent fasting provides precisely that - a structured eating pattern that not only aids in weight management but also fosters routine management. By adhering to designated eating windows, you naturally integrate intermittent fasting into your daily life, making it a seamless part of your routine.
How does this help me financially?
By structuring meals around specific times, you will. be less likely to succumb to impulsive food purchases and snacks.
Intermittent fasting transcends being just a diet plan; it becomes a lifestyle choice.
It goes beyond a one-time event and transforms into a daily ritual that enhances your overall well-being.
By cutting down on unnecessary expenses, individuals can redirect those funds toward their financial goals, providing a safety net during challenging times and building wealth over the long term.
Having a well-established system in place can significantly impact your productivity, time management and extra savings.
Building Consistency through a Plan
The key to successful intermittent fasting lies in consistency. Similarly, building financial discipline and savings require a well-thought-out plan.
Intermittent fasting encourages routine management, and by applying the same approach to your finances, you can create a solid financial plan that aligns with your goals.
Consistency through a plan ensures that you remain on track and are better equipped to achieve financial success.
Closing Thoughts
Embracing intermittent fasting as a routine management tool can lead to unexpected financial benefits.
The discipline and structure cultivated through this lifestyle choice extend to our financial choices as well.
By applying the principles of routine management and discipline to our spending habits, we can avoid impulsive purchases and unnecessary expenses, resulting in long-term financial savings.
Intermittent fasting offers a holistic approach to personal growth and self-discipline.
By incorporating it into your daily routine, you can experience increased productivity, healthier eating habits, and improved financial decision-making. This lifestyle choice becomes a powerful tool for managing your time, resources, and overall well-being.